BATTLETECH ESSENTIALS: The Yen-Lo-Wang and Legend-Killer

#Battletech Essentials has just been put on display, but what about the new unique #Battlemechs within this glorious set?
The #YenLoWang and the #Legendkiller are 2 big names when it comes to custom jobs that have been seen on #SolarisVII. With their release, let's break them down, and why they are so vicious.
#Mechwarrior #Solaris #BattletechEssentials #KaiAllardLiao #JustinAllard #GrayNoton #WarriorTrilogy #HouseLiao #HouseDavion #Rifleman #Centurion
Check out the Pinned Comment for BATTLETECH ESSENTIAL'S Preorder.
And for the resources to this video.
Timestamps:
0:00 Opening
2:02 Introduction: The Yen-Lo-Wang
7:20 The Centurion-YLW Overview
12:35 Introduction: The Legend-Killer
18:08 The Rifleman-LK Overview
22:16 Battletech Essentials
24:10 Battletech Essentials: UNBOXING!
33:43 Important Notes!
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Note: I am not associated with the Battletech / Mechwarrior IP, and create this under fair-use. Ownership of the Battletech IP resides with several companies at this time. I support all official releases.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Catalyst’s Announcement Video!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6TbXmqDoNBojZI Battletech Essentials Box Preorder: www.target.com/p/catalyst-game-labs-battletech-essentials-board-game/-/A-88275088 Estimated shipping date of Sunday, June 18 Resources I used to make this video: Story of the Legend Killer: mwomercs.com/news/2015/11/1399-story-legendkiller Battletech Legends: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-legends The Warrior Trilogy (from memory, supplemented by Battletech Legends when I got rusty) Battletech: Record Sheets 3055 Upgrade: (Gray Noton information and some unused RFL-LK variants) www.drivethrurpg.com/product/97009/BattleTech-Record-Sheets-3055-Upgrade Battletech: Record Sheets 3039: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-record-sheet-3039-unabridged-pdf (YLW1) Battletech: Record Sheets 3050 Inner Sphere: store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-record-sheet-3050u-unabridged-inner-sphere-pdf (YLW2)

[@marvinjohnson2488]

I remember being at Gen Con in 88'. I was stationed on Fort Bragg and my boys and I were on leave when a guy came out in full Steiner regalia and announced the all leaves and passes were canceled and to report to your duty stations asap. Needless to say our butts puckered before we realized that it was an event. I still have the picture of the Atlas too. That was bad ass!

[@canislupus3655]

Would you mind sharing any pictures you have from the time? This is the first time I've heard of this and it sounds super cool

[@reggietheroman]

Thats such an interesting experience 😂

[@KillerOrca]

Man was in it for the FULL bit. Mad props

[@clayendfield4850]

I kinda like the idea of the Legendkiller being a frankenmech, that Norton just fused a Rifleman with a Longbow in such a way that Legendkiller was visually indistinguishable from a standard Rifleman-3N, even though it would've weighed 85-90 tons and carried the armor of it's tonnage bracket to boot.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Too easy to recognize, the measurement would be totally off on a Longbow. Heavier mech means more material, which shows in it being bigger physically. Mechs are already jam-packed full inside, so there isn´t much were additional matter can go, outside is the only path available. Noton having access to LosTech is much more likely, as that was firstly rare and secondly expensive, but he had lots of contacts and money while only requiring enough equipment for one machine, not an entire lance or company. The theory IS interesting nontheless, i admit. Do they have mech scales on Solaris?

[@YesNoMaybeOkSure]

It's also been suggested that the mech could have been a modified 80-ton Rifleman-II, which could have been visually indistinguishable from the normal Rifleman, just with a reinforced frame.

[@NutjobGTO]

​@@sim.frischh9781oh no, Mech CVSA Inspectors

[@datrux]

Solaris mechs have real time data pumped to displays in the arenas and bars and gambling halls. Anything out of the ordinary would have been noticed. Seismic sensors would detect heavier weight, heat management would be available in real time, any change in operation of the autocannons or lasers would be immediately noticeable. Also, everything ever said about Legend Killer from the Warrior novels was that it was a standard RFL-3N with no modifications. Maybe Noton did have a modded Rifleman hidden somewhere, but Legend Killer was a regular old piece of shit Rifleman with a elite pilot (probably a 1/2 or even 0/1 in tabletop terms)

[@robertwainwright3425]

​@@NutjobGTO enough c-bills make inspectors blind 😉😂😂😂😂😂

[@thestabbybrit4798]

Thrust this claw into another Mech's chassis, and the crowd will love you for that. You may even begin to love them for that...

[@BigRed40TECH]

Amazing. Love that movie.

[@davidtryon6157]

LMAO! I understood that reference!

[@WeOnlyEatSoup]

Pure gold lol

[@warhorse03826]

I remember Legend Killer from the Warrior book series...I was at gencon/origins in 1988 when they had the "wedding" and Davion announced "I give you the capellan confederation!". the FASA booth drew back a sheet covering the books related to the war, and the buying frenzy began...

[@HeadHunterSix]

Wasn't that a hell of a place to be? I lost my copy of the invitation long ago, sadly.

[@warhorse03826]

@@HeadHunterSix I have pictures somewhere of the Atlas they had under glass near the booth. I need to find them.

[@chaosbringer9007]

​@@warhorse03826 hit us up when you find them? Love history like that

[@warhorse03826]

@@chaosbringer9007 somewhere I have the "circuit board" pin from the opening of Shadowrun in..1989 I think. I was a big FASA fanboy back in the day, then those battletech simulators just dragged the whole company down. they were just a little bit too far ahead of their time. I've also got a "docwagon" pin from around the same time, and a "green cross" pin from Car Wars. I know I can lay my hands on the badges from gencon/origins 1988, Gencon 1989, and DragonCon 1992. so long as my name/info is blurred I can send you some pics in a few days if that's something you're interested in.

[@rotwang2000]

@@warhorse03826 They had some photos in one of the Battletechnology issues.

[@th3b33f]

Solaris VII theme is such a good idea for a beginner set

[@BigRed40TECH]

It absolutely is. :D

[@scottmccool7242]

Definitely. One of those “why hasn’t this been the norm?” ideas.

[@michaelmorford3932]

Yen-Lo-Wang was pretty cool in the Blood of Kerensky series!!

[@michaelmorford3932]

Hobby Keneefe?

[@pathfinder1983]

Gustavus Michael's gauss rifle equipped hovertruck was the real hero of Alyina

[@GhostBear3067]

​@@pathfinder1983loaded with a steel girder.

[@WolfHreda]

I'll say it here, too: While the books describe Legend-Killer as a standard Rifleman, I have two potential refits for it. The first is to drop the Large Lasers for a pair of Mediums and two extra heat sinks. This frees up enough tonnage to maximize the armor, allowing Gray better protection while doing his best impression of Buster Scruggs and shooting over his shoulder. Plus, he could fire all the weapons every other turn, cycling one laser off every other turn to drop her back to zero heat. _Note: This would actually leave the 'mech 0.5T underweight, but half-ton ammo allotments only exist for MGs in the base rules. While you could drop 8 points of armor off the legs and grab two tons of AC ammo, if you're going more than ten rounds in a Rifleman, those extra 20 rounds are more of a liability than a benefit._ The second would be that he managed to scrounge up enough Star League-era double heat sinks to let him comfortably fire all the weapons as quickly as he wanted, overwhelming anyone familiar with the RFL-3N's usual shortcomings. Even if he kept the singular standard heat sink outside the engine, he'd still have 19 cooling every turn to deal with the lasers and autocannons.

[@andystocking5316]

"Typically people won't need more than one Yen-Lo-Wnag" Sigh, I want four them....one for Justin's Solaris ride, one in 10th Lyran Guards colors, one in Kai's Cenotaph stables colors and finally one in 1st St Ives Lancers.

[@Ironclockwork]

And then there's Mechwarrior 5, where even unmodded you can get your hands on two variants if you have specific DLCs. :P

[@BigRed40TECH]

While that is fair, I did say typically :P

[@andystocking5316]

@@BigRed40TECH Yeah valid point, I probably am on the outside end of the bell curve, but I fell in love witht he Battletch universe through the Blood of Kerensky series, so I reallylike Kai.

[@mechwarrior7278]

Ah! I love the idea of covering canonical “Hero” mechs and their pilots! That’s awesome! (Pretty Baby not intended)

[@adherentofladycolumbia725]

This showed up in my feed right after catalyst announcement, nice.

[@michaelwilson5233]

I might have to get this Starter sent, I think. I’m a big fan of Yen-Lo-Wang and it’s pilots, especially Kai Allard-Liao. It’s cool that these legendary mechs are getting models, even if it’s only being released at Target.

[@moondog8353]

Thanks for the info that Target has these! I'll have to check for them soon.

[@DonaldWWitt]

I think I'll get it just for the Solaris Map-sheet, I think it will work great for an "Urby Derby" demo scenario!

[@shivkatall291]

Personally, I think Noton's Rifleman is just an introtech SLDF model. He just thought it made him better because or the placebo effect. The real Legendkiller was Gray Noton all along.

[@BigRed40TECH]

He won his first championship clean with his normal Rifleman.

[@Marveryn]

i think it was also a 60 ton rifleman cause that make more sense that a few years after he retire a 50 ton mech won. I thought fasa made a mistake by putting a lot of champion on assault mech. they needed to space that out with the years when gray won being lighter designs to show the limit amount of assault available in the inner sphere in general.

[@jefaus06]

I'm wracking my head on the manufacturer of the 240XL engine for the 60 ton legend killer RFL-3N. I can only think of a couple sources for such an engine. The first is off of an STN-3Lb, the Royal version of the Sentinel. The second is off of the Royal version of the Rhino Fire Support Tank. Both of these units were uncommon in usage across the Star League. I was hoping that there was at least a more common Star League-era Aerospace Fighter that also uses the 240XL, but haven't found such a machine. We would expect ground based battle sites to be raided for salvage a lot easier, so finding a nearly intact Sentinel or Rhino would be very, very rare. There were a lot of contaminated battle sites across the Core Worlds that were still dangerous to enter, even in the Succession Wars-era. Nuclear/Biological/Chemical battle sites. This is the only way that Gray Noton got that remarkable engine. Someone sold the lostech to him after they recovered it from one of the many "dead-zones" across the Inner Sphere. He had the money to pay for such a venture.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Yea, he got that somewhere. But *where*? lol

[@goliathxanatos706]

Love these mechs. The models are fantastic. Just wish I could get them.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I do wish it would be too, but I think its really important to get these kinds products out in a big, mainstream retailer like Target. I get why they did it.

[@kevincarlson4755]

What a great video. The box set looks amazing. I just placed my order. Congratulations, CGL thinks very highly of you and your content. I'm very happy CGL is sending you product to review I know you will give an honest opinion. Thanks!

[@thedocklighter]

I got the Vindicator box for that mech, as opposed to the first beginner box that was still available at the time, and I suppose I'll get this when it becomes generally available at a local hobby store for the Yen Lo Wang, to go with the two from MWDA I have. And for the Rifleman sculpt and Solaris rules (after reading the stable abilities in this video - go Tandrek!)

[@michaelsudsysutherland5353]

It has been pretty incredible seeing unique mechs, or lances of mechs, coming out of CGL. Miniature gaming has come a long way since the 80's and 90's!

[@BigRed40TECH]

100%

[@ShawnEnge]

A great review. I like the 'Mechs in it, plus the Solaris rules. We've been talking about running a Solaris campaign, and this will certainly help. I can also see us going up against both of those as "Boss" fights. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@voodoochild1975az]

Catalyst is awesome. Lets say you get the Merc beginner set and the essentials box ... No redundancy. Different and complimentary minis, terrain, pilot cards, maps and even rules variants. Publishers should take note, THIS is how it's done. The lack of redundancy across all the boxes is intentional. That's Catalyst paying attention to detail and trying to give all their customers good value (Target thing aside). Its almost like they respect their customers or something.....

[@benthomson1132]

All I've wanted is a new and comprehensive Solaris VII boxed set, so I really appreciate this theme for a new beginner box and I'll definitely get it.... .... but only with the understanding that Catalyst will follow it up with a PROPER new Solaris VII box set, with all the maps, updated lore, rules, special weapons/equipment, the works! Don't make me shove this money down your throat, Catalyst, I'll do it!

[@HeadHunterSix]

I would be _very_ happy to throw a fist full of money at CGL for a proper Solaris box. They could even make a map pack for arenas and I'd buy that too.

[@wanderertheta]

During some of the Mercenaries Kickstarter AMAs they talked about working on updating various Solaris VII maps to be more playable so it is safe to say that an updated Solaris VII product of some sort is in the works.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I hope we get a Solaris Book at some point in the future.

[@jjsheets330]

If you KZbin gig doesn’t work out you always have potential as a hand model. George Costanza would be proud of you.

[@BigRed40TECH]

XD

[@mechrob1]

Someone in the Calgray BT group who collects Transformers told me, that Target exclusive stuff does get carried in Canada by Toys R Us, so if this Boxset follows that same distribution path will likely see at Toys R Us stores near you.

[@wanderertheta]

It varies a lot, some Target exclusive transformers end up as Toys'R'us exclusives and others end up exclusive to independent toy stores. Looking at Bandai's Target Exclusive Gunpla line it ended up being a general release in Canada. Also the Inner Sphere Retaliation pack which was normally exclusive to Catalyst direct sales in the US somehow ended up as a general retail release in Canada (Though not in large quantiles), so this will probably hit Canada soon there's no way of predicting how it will.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Would be nice, but there is no information on it, so we don't know if something like this will happen.

[@mechrob1]

@@BigRed40TECH Best we can do right now is just wait and see if Toys R Us can get them in, otherwise like with the Wolfs Dragoons pack it will be 6 months before it becomes available to general distribution.

[@mechrob1]

@@wanderertheta sadly there's no Toys R Us in Grande Prairie, but there is one in Edmonton and Calgray, so If this boxset does appear there. i may have to make a trip to grab it.

[@TechnoGolem]

Had to pause the video near the end so I could go pre-order it from target. Love Yen-Lo-Wang.

[@doublestarships646]

I live near a ton of Targets lololol! Yes!!!

[@stuartprior6178]

Jeremiah Rose who formed the Black Thorn unit after The Battle of Tukayyid used a SLDF Neuro Helm and battle suit on Solaris to win some mechs / money (Main Event), I wasn't aware that they tried to keep the odds even. Did the Legend Killer also have a trick in being able to flip its' weapons which took Justin by surprise when he lost his forearm in the first battle

[@geoff-lukebihler6157]

That was a standard quirk for the rifleman so you could flip the arms if you were flanked by an enemy behind you

[@sim.frischh9781]

That arm flip is a general feature of mechs with such kind of arms, the Black Jack for example can do it as well, the Jinggau should be capable as well. So Justin should have known, but if you are not used to fight such mechs, as someone not using them, you might forget about it...

[@kwangsoo515]

Most of the Mechs with that feature are also built with long ranged primary weapons so if you've never fought them up close before you could easily forget about it.

[@DIEGhostfish]

​​@Geoff-Luke Bihler Any mech without a working elbow (lower arm actuator) can do the "Rifleman flip" as compensation for having worse side-aiming and basically no melee. A few mechs WITH elbows will also have the "Hyperextending actuators" quirk can also fire behind them, this includes the Quickdraw and IIRC some versions of the Marauder.

[@EdmondHiggins]

More map sheets are always welcome. I like this box.

[@Eulemunin]

Old grey beard here, this is a starter set I will buy. Even if I expect to lose the miniatures to my teenage sons.

[@Raist474]

Nice name change! Bridging the gap. Also I wonder if Julian Davion realizes he has a yandere waifu now.

[@dietplain7542]

Great Vid, keep em up BigRED!

[@terranceroff8113]

Ya did good! And yea, you' gonna have to paint 'em up dude! Ya just gotta! See you on the stream!

[@TroySeward]

Nice job can't wait to get my hands on this box. Plus I just ordered it.

[@danielgranda896]

Thank you for this great review! I look forward to grabbing one of these. Your content elevates a game I fell in love with when I first read the Warrior Trilogy in the 1989, so I hope they continue to use you as resource for their products. I had played Battletech many times before with the old Red,Blue and Green Griffin Cover books. It was the incredible tale of Justin Xiang that hooked me. This looks to be a great product and I am pre-ordering mine today!

[@tuomastall5836]

My favorite Solaris mech is BL-X-KNT ”Red Reaper”, for it is made for glorious melew fight! What is your favorite solaris mech?

[@BigRed40TECH]

Nice choice. I actually think mine is straight up the Legend-Killer. So I was smiling when I saw this.

[@greysonjones5429]

Great video! I'm gonna need to pick these up... I might even be able to get a diwcount, seeing as I know domeone who works at target. Definitely painting them up as the actual paint schemes. Legend killer is going to be rough to paint

[@dubuyajay9964]

28:57. Thinking about getting a gladius off a mini, painting it in stone colors and putting it in the Centurion's hand as a weapon it tore off a statue to not violate WYSIWYG rules. Not that Battletech was super strict on that to begin with (due to all the mechs that never got a mini).

[@tomarmadiyer2698]

*sees yen lo* Oh hero mechs yeah might clicky *Sees LK* *Clickyclickyclickyclicky* We support rifle daddy

[@scotteverroad4545]

I agree with you,...theres so little history about Solaris 7 and this box is awesome from what I have seen here and other views. Solaris 7 is a great way to start Destiny Campaign, and to me, .... Solaris7 is an un-Tapped setting that needs to be explored! I have a thousand rpg-setting -Ieas and would love to see it developed More. TY for another great Video! Bottom of the Glass-to Ya' my Friend!

[@MadmanMcNabb]

It's wild they got Stackpole writing an intro piece for this set.

[@VictorSteiner]

A few German resellers are getting their hands on this and their costs for importing it are extreme. I paid 60 Euros for the box, but I just didn‘t care because … Yen Lo Wang!

[@powman77]

Great job Red keep it up, man! You're doing great videos !!

[@Arvyn992]

In MW5 I got the Centurion Yen Lo Wang was just called the Centurion Yellow but i now know what it's name really is

[@ZontarDow]

Making these Target exclusive sets must be nice in the US where you can actually buy them.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's a big move for them, but it sucks for the international audience.

[@ZontarDow]

​@@BigRed40TECHit is what it is, not the first Target exclusive if I'm not mistaken, and I believe there was a Barns and Nobles exclusive lance too. Makes sense from a business perspective but I do wish someone in other markets had a deal done like ToysRUs in Canada.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@ZontarDow It is the first Target Exclusive for Battletech. Prior exclusives were for Barnes and Noble.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@ZontarDow Hopefully as they get bigger, we'll see this become less common.

[@HeadHunterSix]

I think that exclusives like this also depend on the willingness of the sponsor, as much as the producer. If no other companies approach CGL about the possibility of deals, they don't happen.

[@johntaylor8095]

Excellent video, thanks! Looking forward to the box.

[@SuaveNerd2000]

Yang Lo Wang, a legendary mech made so by a legendary bloodline. It's story is why I main St.Ives/Liao

[@michaelkimberling7307]

I preordered mine but they do need to keep the international audience in mind

[@BigRed40TECH]

They do, but this box is very important for getting more people to see the product in a mainstream location, like TARGET. There are reasons this was done. I think the optics will always be hard for people when there is exclusivity. I hope the game grows enough that this won't happen as often anymore.

[@michaelkimberling7307]

@@BigRed40TECH oh, I understand that perfectly. It’s just that I’m sure they could’ve worked out some thing with target to allow for international sales at different stores. After all they don’t directly compete with stores in Europe, Asia, and Australia, etc. Target only has stores in the United States and Canada.

[@wanderertheta]

@@michaelkimberling7307 Target does not have stores in Canada, in fact Target's failure in Canada is kind of a legendary fuckup. They do have stores in Australia, though who knows if this box will make it to them.

[@ShimmeringSword]

@@wanderertheta apparently the Target in Aussie is completely separate and non affiliated. I'm sure at some point there was some hefty lawyer posturing and agreements.

[@lalosaurioXL]

I got introduced to the setting playing MW5 and when I stumbled upon it I was way past medium mechs, but perhaps it is famous for a reason, might try it again

[@GamerMastodon]

already preordered

[@SamSam-qh1os]

Gonna have to get this for that super sexy looking Rifleman figure alone... the fact that it it Grey "Legend Killer" Noton's Solaris and (other) ride makes me want it more. Yen Lo Wang and the arena map makes it well worth the money, but I would have paid more if it had maps of all five main arenas and more that one map for the Reaches.

[@leoschvaa]

I would like to see Starter Boxes for each of the Great Houses

[@wytfish4855]

i'm a complete idiot when it comes to all the fancy tabletop stuff given that i live on the other side of the planet where all these stuff don't quite have a presence on, but i've heard how lenient Catalyst can get with their tabletop game. never really believed all the internet talks until i see official products include a silly cardboard cutout so you could proxy them as miniatures for their game. holy shit.

[@claytonhollowell4488]

You know it's a genuine bear video when he holds his hand behind the mech to get the camera to focus on the mech, but the camera still won't do it.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Damn right. Those picture shots were added because the Camera didn't behave! :P

[@claytonhollowell4488]

@@BigRed40TECH Your camera never behaves (when it comes to focusing on minis). But you keep trying, so we know it's you, even if your hair is well kempt.

[@michaelmorford3932]

Wow! The quality of the product is vastly better than what I'm used to while unboxing my Eldar from 40k and with much more extremely well crafted products added to the box. I might call down to my local store to see if anyone plays lol and pick up a few box sets! Great vid, Big Red!

[@michaelmorford3932]

I'd like to see vids like this for all the boxes

[@lesjames2478]

7:16 "in order to display to the world she is mentally fit and healthy..." Shots fired!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BigRed40TECH]

That woman is crazy, Les! lol

[@wraith7989]

Looks like I’ll be adding one of these to my collection.

[@kitirena_koneko]

Kai's Yen-lo-Wang also had one additional modification--he could turn off 4 heat sinks to increase the heat buildup each turn. (I had a house rule that on Yen-lo-Wang's movement phase each turn, the pilot could activate or deactivate four heat sinks until the movement phase of the following turn as a free action to represent this.) Personally, I would love to see a Legends Box Set of Yen-Lo-Wang, Legend-Killer, Victor Steiner-Davion's Prometheus, Phelan Kell's Grinner (the Wolfhound 2C variant), the Red Corsair's mech, Aidan Pryde's OmniMech, and four other equally notorious mechs in one package, along with a mini-TRO for each variant of each mech, including official special rules for Yen-Lo-Wang Mk2's heat sinks.

[@BigRed40TECH]

That's something you can do in the advanced rules, but it's not something I mentioned because it doesn't often see play.

[@kitirena_koneko]

@@BigRed40TECH Cool. I didn't know that particular rule was made official, but the last time I played BT was using the BT Compendium so I have a LOT of catching up to do! Of course, the best part of BT under Catalyst is that now you have a whole slew of different eras to choose from, from the old Star League and its post-Amaris collapse to the new ilClan era, so anyone with a fave (like me with the Clan Invasion) can set a campaign in that era and run things as they like, just like how Star Trek runs from pre-Federation Enterprise through classic Original Series, Animated Series, and Next Generation to Picard and Legends. Come to think of it, it might be fun to have a "retro" rules set from the era of the old Mackie and the beginning of the Star League just for fun. Maybe I should drop a line to Catalyst and suggest it...

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@kitirena_koneko The last time I checked I thought it was an option. I'd have to double-check. I've never myself played with such an option but I know some people have.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@kitirena_koneko Apparently on page 159 of Total Warfare: www.sarna.net/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/156093/Main/155904

[@kitirena_koneko]

@@BigRed40TECH I can see why such an option would be of limited use--whether Clan, Inner Sphere, Star League, or ComStar, heat is the enemy of all Mechs as a rule. I can't see many uses for a rule that you can turn heat sinks OFF outside of the benefits of triple-strength myomer, and even then I would think that by the ilClan Era someone would have at least tried to find a way to make it function at all temperatures, not just boiling hot. (Hmm, maybe someone should send a message to NAIS about Cold TSM?) EDIT: just after I posted this, I recalled the ongoing effort to make room-temperature semiconductors and how much research has gone into that since superconducting materials were first discovered. I can now see the thought of cool (>6 or 7 heat points) TSM being something like that--the theory says it's possible, but it's going to take a LOT of C-Bills and probably several decades of peace to develop it, and between the different skirmishes between houses, the Invading Clans getting rowdy again, whatever the Home Clans are up to lately (a potential future invasion once things slow down? I wonder...), and the priority of either rebuilding the HPG Net or replacing it with something better, I don't think Cool TSM is as high of a priority as it could be--or maybe it is because stronger Mechs would give the Inner Sphere an edge against the Clans in melee fighting...

[@CJamesGoode]

May try and Talk my Wife into latting start back on the tabletop with this, doesn't take up a lot of space.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's real simple, comes with all the rules you need, and fits in a smallish box. It's pretty neat. :)

[@vogless]

Great video!!! How about a paint guide now? 😉

[@BigRed40TECH]

Best of luck :P

[@OurCreatorsHouse]

This was epic, great video

[@bruced648]

I would like to see the beginner box sets and now the essential box set, become a yearly addition to the game. the 1st and 2nd beginner boxes introduced players to the idea of the game. the essentials box set adds specific dueling rules, while still in the introductory system. I think a new essentials box next year, themed for the mercenary releases would be ideal. have the box include 2 medium mechs and 2 tanks (1 of each, for each player). a follow up essential (the next year) could be citytech. it would include potentially 2 mechs and 2 vehicles, plus a couple of buildings (from Alpha Strike). as a starter series, this could show the various aspects of the game in a simplified format. while still giving value to existing players.

[@xerenkeldar]

That's a great box!

[@BigRed40TECH]

I think its awesome. :D

[@jong2359]

More Hero mechs, they are the steak bites amongst the ground beef of standard mechs. Ground beef is good, but steak is delicious.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

Well Big Red your taking the high road as a reviewer has paid off. Catalyst used you to get the word out on some fly new product. Excellent! A Solaris arena combat intro is interesting and I admit being a little surprised in a good way. Even a battlefield hound like myself has heard of the two champion mechs. They are badass rides and nice examples on how to customize mechs besides random swapping interior components. I'll keep an eye out for them in local Targets down here.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It was fun to do, lots of work, and I was tense on how the video would do, and if I could get it done to a satisfactory level on time, but I think it works.

[@lennywarren4249]

I love the video and all the information you provided, awesome job. The only issue I have, and it is a very minor issue, with the box set is the artwork. With Justin's lineage being Capellan which, in my mind, would be more Chinese in origin than Japanese. So, it seems a little odd that the artist would have painted his Mech in the "Rising Sun" battle flag style since that is Japan's WW2 battle flag. Not a major issue by any stretch of the imagination just a little odd to me. Again, great job on the video. Keep up the amazing work.

[@Marc_Araujo]

I get what you're saying but that's how the mech was depicted in BattleTech: Legends and even MechWarrior: Online before that.

[@geoffreydunne7422]

Well us motorcycle trip needed lol

[@BigRed40TECH]

Remember, this is the preorder. lol

[@sim.frischh9781]

Oh, they use the old box type, not the more hull type. That´s neat. Though you MIGHT should have blurred the code, otherwise you might have already used it... ? When the Yen-Lo-Wang came out on MWO, i immendiately got it, i´m a fan of the mech since i read the Warrior trilogy many years ago. It´s my favorite BT novel series, together with Blood of Kerensky. Camera struggles to focus on the little model... still, looks good. The art style is good, not as revolutionary as MWO, but clearly more modern and in a way, efficient.

[@certanmike]

the codes are one per buyer so if you got it from the game of armor combat i dont think you can use the new one (and is why this is not an auto buy for me)

[@rh352]

I loved this video! And I’ve already ordered my copy 🤓 I still want to know why Yen-Lo-Wang is painted with the rising sun instead of a more chinese-focused paint scheme though

[@freeranger00]

Essentials looks like a great starter, I just wish that it were available at your FLGS.

[@VictorSteiner]

I‘m torn on how to paint Yen Lo Wang‘s cockpit. Old images show only the upper part as cockpit, but MWO abd some other images enlargen the cocklit window downwatds to the chin.

[@madcat3525]

I want the Yen lo wang with the gauss rifle.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

Ironically the commercial proceeding this video was one for Warhammer 40K.😂

[@BigRed40TECH]

They need all the help they can get :P

[@mdsx01]

Centurion was always my MWO go to for duels. With an AC20 and SRM4s, it just shredded armor at close range. Took on my friends Blood Asp and it all came down to a few shots.

[@empoweredshemphoward]

Good lore with these mechs, i love using yen lo-wang in mw5, had way better luck than with the LK.

[@vishnu79]

I've found in MW5, that the AI will inevitably attempt to brawl and circle-strafe if left to it's devices. I had great luck with LK myself, by micro-ing my AI Lance mates a bit more, and using them as meat shields while keeping the LK under my own control and hanging back. Basically, I let my sponges get some hits in on hostiles first to get their attention, and then hammered them down. Edited because auto-corrupt turned "lancemates" into "lacerated", because computers are stupid.

[@kagetemplar]

Stupid Target failing to enter the stupid Canadian market. Just look at the grim repercussions of their incompetence? Now I have to book a flight to visit my Sister! 😠

[@joegroves2517]

I'm really confused why Yen-Lo-Wang has such a Japanese-inspired look when I thought Liao represented more Chinese culture and Kurita was more Japanese. I'm pretty new to the setting though, so could have things wrong. Thanks!

[@z2ei]

It's had that scheme since at least the CCG in 1997 so who knows.

[@roberttorquati5186]

Confederation is China basically

[@kevinrahman-porras5220]

Thanks!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you! :D

[@Wastelandman7000]

I'm surprised the other Legend Killer hasn't been snagged by the Head Hunter. LOL Sounds like something he/she would like.

[@peterfromaustria724]

I just hope there will be a chance to get this in Europe too somehow to a half decent price … in Austria is almost impossible to get anything Battletech without expensive shipping

[@BigRed40TECH]

I hope so too.

[@Ironhold_Watch]

The real legend here is the mw4 mercs. Soundtrack

[@JeanLucCaptain]

i was comeplty unaware of these unique mechs very cool! i would absolutly consider using this as i want to get into a game like Battletech with small units and not needing to spend huge amounts of money. Speaking of unique/hero mechs could you cover the Bounty Hunter and his/her various mechs? Also please cover MORE Solaris 7 specific mechs like the ones from TRO 3055 Upgrade as they are very cool and designed for a very unique environment. ND THEN I GOT TO THE END AND AS AN CANADIAN IS JUST SHRUGGED go figure. oF COURSE ITS NOT AVAILABLE IN CANADA.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Maybe!

[@JeanLucCaptain]

@@BigRed40TECH Also could ypu potentially cover some of the unique weapons and gear used by Solaris 7 mechs?

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@JeanLucCaptain No immediate plans for that, just too many other things on the table atm.

[@mattcarper9853]

The FOMO on some faceboom groups is entertaining

[@BigRed40TECH]

Facebook, a dangerous place to trek, there are many ancient evils there :P Kidding aside, that's pretty funny.

[@mattcarper9853]

@@BigRed40TECH I laughed. A lot.

[@matthewjay660]

Kai! 💪🏻

[@matthewneuendorf5763]

This is very interesting. However, I have two hang-ups: Target is an evil company that I'd much rather not give my business, and YLW in the novels is described as having its three-claw "hatchet" attached to the ends of its lower three fingers and not wolverine claws on the wrist.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's just apart of the visual redesign for the mech to make it work, sadly. Also, I suspect Target is no more evil than any number of large companies sadly. lol

[@aaronrasalhagueforever3311]

33$ with shipping in the US

[@BigRed40TECH]

It will be available in stores eventually though, where shipping won't be applied. But it's gotta arrive in store.

[@StigmaNYC]

Can’t wait for the Essentials pack to drop? Need more Battletech lore? Lets convince Big Red to read the story arcs for Danial Allard his brother Justin Xiang-Allard, Grey Norton, and the Kell Hounds in what led up to the Solaris games in Michael A. Stackpole‘s novel WARRIOR: EN GARDE.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I mean, I like the Warrior trilogy from my vague memories of it. I was planning on re-reading these when I got the opportunity. I dunno if I wanna do a video on it though. lol

[@StigmaNYC]

@@BigRed40TECH all you really need is the first book not even a few chapters. You’ll know once you start the first chapter. You have to be the one to do this book report. U the man! No one does it better. I’ll send you my book if I have too! Lol

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@StigmaNYC I have a copy of the book. I've literally read it before. I just read it decades ago. And I'll not be doing a video on it anytime soon. I literally have too much to do, to be honest. :\

[@StigmaNYC]

​@@BigRed40TECH I understand. You just have this way of doing kickass narrations. This video gets me super excited since I just read the book I had a nerdgasm. Thanks for all you do for the community.

[@Ironclockwork]

Yen-Lo-Wang: An awesome 'Mech named after the Chinese god of death and painted with a Japanese Rising Sun insignia. Typical Battletech cultural casserole confusion. :P

[@_ENOVA]

thank you

[@tschriv]

I have always wondered WHY they used the Rising Sun motif, which is traditionally Japanese, on Yen Lo Wang.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Honestly not a clue myself.

[@stephenknizek2651]

Honestly, I'm buying it more for the Thunderbolt. And the Stackpole short. I feel that the Yen Lo Wang is a horrendous mutilation of a proper Centurion (cue the Godfather "Look how they massacred my boy"), but I guess Solaris is a unique thing.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thunderbolt is a paper-mech to be clear. lol

[@stephenknizek2651]

@@BigRed40TECH Oh I know, but I remember a previous livestream where you said that the only forcepack with a Thunderbolt was the Barnes & Noble exclusive, the Eridani Light Horse forcepack, and none of the other mechs appealed to me. So this is a better option.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Oh, yes! Sorry I thought you meant in this box. lol

[@Prich319]

There is a Thunderbolt in the standard box set as well.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@Prich319 AGOARC

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

I'd love to pick up a set, but I refuse to deal with Target to get one.

[@arthurpendragon3000]

So is this a Target on-line exclusive or will it be in the physical store? I'm not keen on paying shipping when I can go 5 miles to a store. Just me trying to save a few $.

[@DanielIsberner]

Physical store as well

[@briandavion]

If anyone's curious target does NOT ship itnernationally.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Yep, I do mention that in the video in terms of its availability. :(

[@vladt7150]

...but would Target object to shipping to a US-based package forwarding service? Like, would there be any specific, regional distribution-related prohibition on Target's end to a non-US customer using a forwarding service to ship it outside the US? Because, tbh, I don't necessarily trust or believe that this will be a timed exclusive that will eventually see world wide distribution (aside of the inevitable eBay scalpers, of course)... 🤔

[@BigRed40TECH]

You could use forward services like Planet Express I'm pretty sure. Just don't quote me on that, as I've never used one. lol

[@kithran]

Damn it why does it have to release a few days _after_ I get back from a holiday in America :(

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's not released yet! It's just preorders! :D Release is next month!

[@kithran]

@@BigRed40TECH Yup - I fly to Vegas on 6th June and back on the 13th - if it came out a week earlier I'd be able to pick it up while I was there

[@HeadHunterSix]

@@kithran sounds like you need to reschedule your trip. :D

[@lexington476]

Hey what a chance, catalyst just released information on the BattleTech Essentials box set..... Is this video coincidence correlation or conspiracy 🤔🤔🤔.... I suspect a conspiracy of correlation 😊. That or big red was paid to make a video 🖖🤘👍.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I was NOT paid to make this video. They just asked me to review the box.

[@cliffg.4205]

If you've never read the Warrior Trilogy, read the Warrior Trilogy. You will pretty quickly come to understand why Justin Xiang Allard is such a big deal.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I have. I mention it in the video. I think I made him a big deal in this video. I just didn't want to make a 2 hour video. lol

[@cliffg.4205]

@@BigRed40TECH I could tell, my comment was directed more towards your viewers that have not. But thanks for reading and replying to my comment.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@cliffg.4205 I mean it when I say I'll catch people in the comments section :P

[@AlmostWicked]

Just for future reference, you should make sure to blur out any coupon codes otherwise, when you go to use them you might find them invalid.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I didn't need the coupon. I had one used before on my account and it's one time per account. Even otherwise, if someone out there grabbed it for themselves, that just means they can get more battletech, so its fine. :)

[@ghulz4545]

Sadly Target doesn't ship to Canada :(

[@BigRed40TECH]

There are options like Planet Express, but the shipping would be high.

[@Doomer1984]

Very cool. Haven't read any Solaris books. Can anyone recommend one?

[@BigRed40TECH]

Novel wise or rulebook wise?

[@Doomer1984]

@@BigRed40TECH novel

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@Doomer1984 Jump into the Warrior trilogy! You should check this out btw: www.humblebundle.com/books/battletech-fiction-catalyst-game-labs-books Has it there. It's where the Yen-Lo-Wang got famous :D

[@Doomer1984]

Cool thanks

[@toddsmith5197]

I agree with your review in almost every way. But i dont believe that they had to make it Target exclusive internationally. Target won't ship to Canada so it's extremely frustrating to deal with this. I absolutely understand it in the US but to exclude countries Target wont sell to anyways is not optimal to say the least. If your reading this and your from Catalyst... Not ok, not happy and far less likely to continue buying what i can just print off when treated like this. Otherwise Good Vid Big Red thanks for the review it

[@BigRed40TECH]

I don't know all the details, but I do know the business behind it. Target as an exclusive is great for them in several ways, but they want it to make it into a large, mainstream online and in-store retail outfit. It might generate new players. Like trust me, I get it. But I understood their business decision behind this as soon as they told me it was a Target exclusive.

[@toddsmith5197]

@@BigRed40TECH Hey, I want the company to do well. I honestly do and I want the game to grow. But I as a consumer am not happy that I can't order it even from Target. I live in Victoria BC and several stores here are great supporters of the game. They are not going to be happy being cut out of a market that Target won't even service. I think that's the part that bothers me not the exclusive nature of the box but that I can't even order it from the exclusive vendor. Now I either 3D Print or pay some hustler double or more just to get what should be available here.

[@toddsmith5197]

@@BigRed40TECH Also I fully acknowledge this is neither your doing or fault. But I am hoping Catalyst sees this and takes note of the feedback. Not trying to derail your review with a whinefest

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@toddsmith5197 I live in BC myself. Like, I do get the frustration, but the box just wouldn't have been made in all likelihood if Target didn't ask them for an exclusive product I suspect.

[@jaredmccain7555]

Did you clean the mold lines or are cgls model quality getting better? The original starter set of the griffin and wolverine had alot of moldlines.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Quality's getting better :) I did notice one mold-line on the CN9, but it was in the right place too.